Family friendly travelling in Vancouver

Most popular areas in Vancouver for family-friendly hotels

Vancouver is great place to take the family and you can find family-friendly hotels right in the center of town. Staying in downtown Vancouver means you’ll have easy access to many of the city’s best attractions. Just on the edge of Downtown, the Waterfront district overlooks Vancouver Harbour and there are some great family-friendly hotels in this location. Some of the hotels here have panoramic views across the harbor. Another place to find family-friendly accommodation is out near the airport on Sea Island, about a 30-minute drive from Downtown.

Top family-friendly hotels in Vancouver

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel is set above the departures terminal. The hotel offers babysitting, and the health club includes a children’s pool. The restaurant has a children’s menu, and food is free for under-6s and half-price for 6- to 11-year-olds. The Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver Harbourfront has spacious guestrooms, with some featuring Vancouver Harbour views. The hotel offers complimentary WiFi, and the indoor pool has a shallow end suitable for children. The Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver is right in the heart of Downtown. Family activities there include crafts, sing-alongs, and junior chef tours.

Where to find the best restaurants in Vancouver

Vancouver’s downtown area has a selection of fast food restaurants, as well as a choice of other eateries offering children’s menus. These Downtown restaurants range from pizzerias to upmarket hotel eateries. If you’re looking for desserts, Downtown also offers some great options including ice cream parlors and waffle houses. Visit Chinatown, just to the south of Downtown, where you’ll find some inexpensive restaurants that welcome younger diners. You’ll also find family-oriented restaurants in trendy Gastown, just to the east of Downtown.

The most popular things to do in Vancouver

Vancouver has plenty of attractions and entertainment aimed at younger visitors. Take the family to the Kids Market on Granville Island. The market is set in a converted factory that’s 100 years old, and has some 25 shops selling everything from toys and games to clothing, books, and art materials. The market also runs special events and activities for children throughout the year. Combine education and fun with a visit to the TELUS World of Science, where exciting live science demonstrations are staged at the Peter Brown Family Centre Stage. Let the kids burn off some energy at Stanley Park, a 1,000-acre forested space with trails, just to the north of Downtown. The park has several playgrounds, a miniature train station, and an outdoor pool, plus there’s the Vancouver Aquarium to visit.

Best ways to get around Vancouver

Vancouver has an extensive network of buses – remember to take the right money for fares as the buses do not provide change. The SkyTrain is a metropolitan rail service with 3 lines, and children will love the elevated sections, which offer a bird’s eye view of the city. You can also catch ferries from Waterfront. Children under 5 travel for free on buses, the SkyTrain, and some ferries, while there are concessionary fares for those aged from 5 to 13. Taxis are easy to find in the center of the city.